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Research conducted by USAID has established that there is a high potential for groundwater in Turkana and Marsabit counties.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), in a study led by the US Geological Survey, revealed additional water sources in southern Turkana and Marsabit Counties.
The US Geological Survey covered an area of approximately 146,000 kilometres which is the majority of the land area of both counties.
Saud Amer, Water Resources and Remote Sensing Specialists of USGS, said there is a big potential for water resources in Turkana.
“Over 70 per cent of the rural population of Kenya depends on groundwater for their domestic use. There’s also increasing use of groundwater for economic activities such as irrigation, fisheries, mining and industry,” he said.
He said the report is out and they are working with locals to build the capacity for Kenyan professionals to carry out the drilling of boreholes.
“Before drilling, we have to know what we are doing because groundwater is your savings account,” he said.
Amer said this while handing over a report to the County government and National government for implementation.
According to him, the objective of the project is to increase resilience to climate change, promote economic growth and development, improve livelihood, and promote security and stability in the region.
Gichangi Wotuku, Head of groundwater in the Ministry of Water, said the report handed over to the County and National governments can be utilised for immediate solutions.
He clarified that not all the pockets of the Lotikipi water aquifer are saline.
He said they are going to undertake exploration through drilling the boreholes.
“The mapping of groundwater is normally large but doesn’t give fine details such as the quality of water, which can be determined through the drilling of boreholes,” he said.
He said the ministry of water is having a Horn of Africa groundwater resilient program which covers five counties, including Turkana, Mandera, Wajir, Marsabit and Garissa, where a lot of investment will be put in.
Turkana Deputy Governor Peter Lotethiro appreciated the efforts of USAID for undertaking the scientific survey to determine water sources in Turkana.
“The research shows there are areas with high potential of water. These findings give the County government a chance to go straight where there is water,” he said.
In 2013, the government announced the discovery of the Lotikipi aquifer which contains 250 billion cubic metre but abandoned over reports of salinity.
It could supply water in Turkana West and elsewhere for 70 years, but was determined to be economically unviable because the cost of desalination is very high.
Lotethiro said the recent report from the expert shows entire areas of Lotikipi may not be saline.
University of Nairobi lecturer Gilbert Ouma said the water quality index map for the Napuu aquifer in Lodwar pointed to the possibility of pockets of non-saline water. It was recently developed by researchers.
The two aquifers, Lotikipi and Napuu, share key characteristics. BY THE STAR